Fireteam Majestic: Difference between revisions

On February 10, Majestic and Crimson were deployed by Commander Palmer to assault a Covenant outpost and recover [[Requiem slipspace artifacts|a Forerunner artifact]] as part of an operation codenamed ACADEMIC. The next day, Majestic partook in Operation: THREE-CARD MONTE: with support by [[Fireteam Tower|Tower]], [[Fireteam Castle|Castle]] and [[Fireteam Domino|Domino]] Teams, they were tasked with a search-and-destroy mission against Covenant outposts at locations REQ-822-A, REQ-822-B, REQ-822-C, and REQ-822-D.<ref name="briefing"/>

Madsen and DeMarco were later assigned to guard [[Catherine Halsey]] along with [[Sarah Palmer|Commander Sarah Palmer]] upon her return to the ''Infinity''. Later, Thorne volunteered to guard her during her research.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[S1/Catherine|S1E3 ''Catherine'']]</ref> During the UNSC's pursuit of [[Jul 'Mdama]], Fireteams [[Fireteam Crimson|Crimson]] and Majestic were sent to two possible locations to search for him. Majestic engaged a large [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|Covenant force]] and managed to corner them before the survivors mysteriously disappeared. Grant would soon figure out that they used [[Slipspace translocation]] to escape, which allowed Crimson to find a way to pursue 'Mdama.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[S1/Didact's Hand|S1E4 ''Didact's Hand'']]</ref>

Sometime during the operation in recovering the "[[Didact's Gift]]" from [[Galileo Base]], Majestic was pinned down due to [[Covenant]] air support. With the base's anti-air defenses offline, Thorne quickly hijacked a low-flying [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshee]] and subsequently destroyed a nearby [[Type-44 Troop Carrier|Phantom]], allowing the Fireteam to complete their objective. Back aboard the ''Infinity'', Thorne and DeMarco provided security for the artifact as Dr. Halsey and [[Roland (AI)|Roland]] examined it. The device released an energy burst shortly after revealing itself, and began to display images on the room's monitors; these were then identified as human memories harvested by the Composer during the Didact's attack on [[New Phoenix]], [[URNA]] six months prior. Thorne left the room straight after discovering the Forerunner artifact Crimson had recovered on one of the monitors. Curious as to how the device had images of New Phoenix, Thorne investigated the Requiem artifact himself. After coming into physical contact with it, he activated it, and was sent to Requiem.<ref name="hand">'''Spartan Ops''', [[S1/Memento Mori|S1E5 ''Memento Mori'']]</ref> He was transported to a Covenant-held base, where several [[Sangheili Storm|Sangheili]] warriors surrounded him. After a short fight, Thorne managed to kill a few before being knocked unconscious. He was then dragged away to be held as prisoner.

Later, they were attacked by Covenant forces. DeMarco radioed in for reinforcements and [[Fireteam Crimson]] was sent to aid them.<ref name="s1e8"/> After Crimson destroyed the Covenant artillery, Palmer told them they owed Crimson a round when they got back.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', ''Episode 8, Chapter 2: "Majestic Rescue"''</ref> When the Pelican arrived for evac, they were met by a life-size hologram of Captain [[Thomas Lasky]], he asked them to rescue Dr. Halsey from [[Jul 'Mdama]]. When they arrived at Halsey's location Thorne turned on his active camo and snuck around the Elite guards. When they noticed him, he de-cloaked and signaled the rest of Majestic to attack, DeMarco charged in with his energy sword, while Hoya, Grant, and Madsen attacked from above. DeMarco told Thorne to go inside and rescue Dr. Halsey while they handled the guards. Thorne arrived shortly after Dr. Halsey exited the "shrine", while cloaked he killed one of Jul's guards and deactivated the camo, quickly killing another of Jul's guards. Dr. Halsey threw Thorne half of the [[Janus Key]], as he looked at it a third Elite ran up behind Thorne but was killed by [[Sarah Palmer]], who had arrived to kill Dr. Halsey. 'Mdama then yelled for his [[Promethean Knights]] and several [[slipspace translocation|translocated]] into the area. The rest of Majestic showed up just as they arrived and engaged them. Jul was forced to retreat into a corner with Halsey, however just as Thorne and Palmer closed in on him another Knight translocated in behind 'Mdama, grabbed him, and teleported out of the area. Palmer asked why Majestic was there and they told her they were ordered to rescue her.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[S1/Key|S1E9 ''Key'']]</ref>

Sometime later, along with Commander Palmer, they were ordered to deactivate one of the two [[Requiem translocation artifact|translocation artifacts]] still on Requiem, while Crimson deactivated the other. Before they left they witnessed the departure of the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|Covenant]] fleet. When Requiem began to move towards the local star Palmer hurried them toward the artifact.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[S1/Exodus|S1E10 ''Exodus'']]</ref> Shortly after Crimson deactivated their artifact, Majestic eliminated the last of the Elites defending the last artifact and deactivated it. They evacuated and arrived aboard ''Infinity'' at the same time as Crimson, allowing ''Infinity'' to escape just in time.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[S1/Key#Closing cinematic|S1E10 ''Exodus conclusion'']]</ref>

Following the attack, ''Infinity'' learned that the assault crafts from the freighter belonged to the long-lost {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}. Roland discovered that the freighter was launched near [[Oth Lodon]], a gas giant located deep in Jiralhanae space. With the Spirit's possible location found, Lord Hood authorized Commander Palmer to conduct a search and rescue mission. Equipped with [[OF92 Booster Frame]]s, Fireteam Majestic and Palmer scouted the planet's system. Exploring the system's asteroid field, the Spartans came across not the ''Spirit of Fire'' but instead a [[Oth Lodon station|Covenant station]] under control by [[New Colonial Alliance]] insurgents.<ref name="HE5">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #5''</ref> When the UNSC defector, Captain [[Daniel Clayton]], fired on ''Infinity'', the Spartans quickly boarded the station and secured the bridge. Madsen knocked Clayton out and the Spartans utilized the station's cannon to destroy [[Vata 'Gajat]]'s flagship just as it was preparing to attack ''Infinity''.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #6''</ref>

On [[2558#July|July 16, 2558]], Commander Palmer and Thorne were deployed on the colony of [[Oban]] against Jul 'Mdama's forces. Desperate to find Jul, Palmer and Thorne drove a Warthog and engaged Promethean forces. Palmer recklessly drove the Warthog off of a cliff, landed on a [[Type-44 Phantom|Phantom]] [[dropship]], and crashed to the ground. Thorne was injured in the process and the Spartans were only saved after the Phantoms were destroyed by a [[GA-TL1 Longsword]] called in by Spartan [[Joel Thomas]]. After a short engagement, the Covenant forces withdrew from the system.<ref name="HE13">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue #13]]''</ref>

On July 18, upon attempting to make a slipspace jump out of the Oban system, ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s engines ceased functioning properly and the ship became stranded in space.<ref name="HE13"/> Palmer assumed tactical command of a ground team consisting of Fireteam Majestic and several other Spartans for a mission to investigate a potential source of interference emanating from the surface of a nearby planet, provisionally designated [[Aktis IV]]. Upon landing on an island on the planet, Commander Palmer and Majestic engaged and defeated a detachment of Covenant forces and subsequently discovered a recently-excavated Forerunner structure. The Spartans provided cover for [[Henry Glassman|Dr. Glassman]] as he arrived on Aktis IV to examine the structure. At Glassman's request, the UNSC brought their half of the Janus Key to the planet, but the artifact was stolen by the Covenant rebel [[Sali 'Nyon]]. A massive Covenant ambush was subsequently triggered and the Spartans were forced to fall back inside the Forerunner structure.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 14|Issue #14]]''</ref>

The Spartans and Glassman remained under attack by Covenant forces inside the structure for over seven hours and were unable to establish contact with ''Infinity''. While they retreated inside the facility, Hoya was left behind outside. Fending off Covenant and Promethean forces in the jungle, Hoya spotted Dr. Halsey aboard a Phantom. He contacted Ray about his discovery, who, in turn, informed Palmer. Glassman managed to get the structure's [[teleportation grid]] operational before the Covenant breached the structure. At Palmer's request, Glassman opened portals to both the jungle and the other end of the island. Palmer, intending to hunt down Halsey, took the former portal with Ray and Thorne, while ordering Grant, Glassman and the rest of the Spartans to take the latter. Grant's team arrived in the midst of a skirmish between the Covenant and two [[Mantis]]es ''Infinity'' had deployed as reinforcements and were nearly killed by friendly fire.<ref name="HE15">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 15|Issue #15]]''</ref>

After traveling through the portal to the jungle, Palmer, Ray and Thorne spotted a [[Unidentified Sangheili Minor|Sangheili defector]] who offered Sali 'Nyon's half of the Janus Key to Jul 'Mdama.<ref name="HE15"/> At Palmer's orders, the trio waited until Halsey arrived to claim the artifact and ambushed the doctor and her escort once 'Mdama rerouted most of the convoy elsewhere. With Halsey escaping into the jungle, Palmer left Ray and Thorne to fend off the Covenant and pursued the doctor. Palmer captured Halsey but the latter managed to escape while Palmer was incapacitated. With the battle concluded in 'Mdama's victory, the Spartans of Fireteam Majestic returned to ''Infinity''.<ref name="HE16">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 16|Issue #16]]''</ref>